Damien walked along the cracked sidewalk, his head down, his steps slow and deliberate and his hands shoved deep into his pocket. The sun had risen fully now, casting it's warm glow upon him as he walked. It did little to stop the cold that was plaguing his insides.
People whizsed past him, knocking into his shoulders without saying a word. He grunted everytime he got hit but he barely noticed the movements.
His mind was filled with different thoughts on how he was to raise the money he needed to start up his business. $2500. How was he going to get that?
He let out a soft sigh, his cold breath pushing out a small mist before him. His nose caught the smell of a cigarette smoke and he looked up. A young man stood by a light pole, puffing on one as he scrolled through his phone.
Damien's gaze remained glued on the cigarette stick as he walked by. It had been three years since he decided to stop smoking but with the pressure that he felt weighing on his shoulder, he wanted so much to get a taste of that.
"What you looking at, bozo?"
The voice instantly snapped Damien out of his thoughts and he looked up. The man who'd been smoking had lifted his gaze from his phone and had fixed it on Damien. The scowl on his face caused Damien to immediately turn away.
Damien had only walked for some minutes when a thought hit him. He was on the path to Diana's house.
His heart beat harder against his chest as he passed by the building. He couldn't help but feel this rollercoaster of feelings racing wildly through him.
The porch light was still on, shaking in the mist of dawn. He slowed down his pace as his eyes scanned over to the large front window.
A shadow flashed by behind the curtain.
His breath caught as he watched the silhouette sway in the swinging curtain. Even at this distance, he recognized the way she walked... and the way she stood. He smiled at himself as he watched her place one hand on her hip, the other running along her neck-the same way she always stood when she was lost in thought
She was... right there.
For a moment, he thought of walking to the door, knocking... apologizing. He wanted to tell her everything he couldn't tell her earlier.
But then the reality hit.
She had made up her mind-he was no longer a part of her life.
Taking in a sharp breath, he tore his gaze from the window and continued his walk down the street.
Damien sighed, his shoulders slumping as he brought his gaze to the ground, the sound of his footsteps drowned out by the waking city. Cars drove by and he could hear voices discussing in the streets, in open windows-everywhere. The world was moving, indifferent to his mess.
Then—
"You have no shame at all, do you?" a voice suddenly said, cold and dripping with scorn, cutting through the air like a blade.
Damien stood still, a small frown forming on his face. He turned his head very slowly, already anticipating what he would see.
Richard.
He stood a few feet away from Damien, his arms folded across his chest. He was dressed in a sleek, navy-blue suit, the kind that screamed wealth. His blond hair was slicked back perfectly, and not a strand was out of place. And he had a smirk, one that caused Damien to growl inside, etched across his tanned face. His presence was as infuriating as ever.
"I should have known you'd grovel your way back to her," Richard sneered, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Pathetic."
Damien took a deep breath, gritting his teeth to remain calm. "I just wanted to talk to her," he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady. People were already noticing the tension rising between the two. "That's all."
Richard snorted, his head shaking. "Talk? Oh sure, you crawled back to talk, didn't you?"
"This doesn't concern you," Damien mumbled, his jaws tightening. "And I'd rather you leave me alone--"
Before he could finish speaking, he felt a shot of pain burst in his stomach.
Richard had lunged forward and had shot his fist into his stomach, driving the air out of his lungs. Damien doubled over, gasping for breath.
Richard grabbed him on the collar before he could catch his breath, yanking him upright. "I told you to leave her alone," he snarled, his warm breath dancing in Damien's face. "You don't get to destroy her life any more than you already have, bastard."
"I—I wasn't—" Damien struggled to speak all the while trying to fill his lungs.
He didn't finish speaking again when another punch landed on him, this time, to the face.
His head snapped to the side, pain throbbing from his cheek like fire. He stumbled but Richards hold on him kept his balance. The world whirled around him and he could hear people gasping and murmuring.
But Richard wasn't through with him yet.
Pushing him forward, Richard shoved him into a lamppost. He hit the post with a loud thud, a sickening crack resounding through the street. Before he could find his balance again, he left a knee slam into his ribs.
A gurgling gasp erupted from his lips. The pain was unbearable. His body trembled, but Richard would not stop.
A group of people had started gathering by this time. Frightened whispers filling the air.
"Hey! Stop him!"
"Call the police!"
"Shit, he's going to kill him!"
Damien barely registered the voices as his ears just rang. His vision blurred and his knees buckled. The earth beneath him felt as though it was about giving way.
And then—
A last punch came straight to his jaw, sending him tumbling.
His cheek struck the hard pavement, and he felt a warm liquid drip from his lips onto the asphalt. He tried to move but his body refused to listen. He heard voices screaming, feet shuffling, hands grabbing Richard back.
But it was already too late.
Damien could already feel the world fading away. This was it. This was his rock bottom.
And then—
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING...]
A chime rang inside his head. His fading vision was illuminated by a bright blue screen hovering in front of him.
[Welcome, Damien Carter.]
[You have been chosen.]
His aching body suddenly felt lighter now. The searing pains were gone and his racing heartbeat was back to normal.
[Your greatness begins here.]
The last thing Damien remembered before the darkness overwhelmed him was the brilliant light of the system hanging before him.